Sun Destinations

Delving into the lion pride dynamics of the Ross pride or trying to figure out Mxabene the leopard’s latest conquest is like trying to figure out the plot of a banal soap opera. There is always plenty of drama in the world of lions of leopards. What happens in the wild is endearing yet unforgiving at the same time.

The more you study our big cats, the more you come to realise what incredible instincts, intelligence and sense of family these creatures possess. The more big cat knowledge you have, the more you become attached to their life. You become familiar with the same characters and the similar themes. And believe me, a cat saga can drag on for years.

This week we’ve witnessed a newcomer into the world of leopards and a re-uniting of a lion pride. Let the soap opera begin!

This week’s leopard drama in Sabi Sand

Unkumbe Safari Lodge offers its visitors the opportunity to view of wealth of wildlife in one of the most sought after reserves in South Africa. We focus on leopard sightings because there is abundance of the panthera pardis species patrolling the the traverse. Leopards are notoriously elusive, so it’s fitting to share the leopard sightings when they happen. And this just seems to happen constantly !

This week we’ve had a new development in the world of leopards. Out of the blue, a beautifully patterned leopardess called “Warthog Wallow” made her way across from Sabi Sabi and onto Umkumbe territory. She had clear intentions of wanting to copulate with Mxabene, a commonly sighted leopard who patrols the Umkumbe turf. Both leopards were caught mating in front of the lodge.

Warthog Wallow is quite a heavyset female and you certainly wouldn’t want to cross paths with her. Mxabene sired two cubs with local lass, White Dam, who was last seen on an impala kill with the kids. Since the appearance of the third party, White Dam has moved further south of the property.

Just when we thought we had a handle of what was going on in leopard world, we received reports of another leopard on the prowl. This time it was a male called Bicycle Crossing. He was literally sauntering across the gravel paths outside the lodge. He has been spotted on occasion but prefers a cameo appearance opposed to a leading role. This adds a bit of spice to the dynamic. Mxabene seems to have his choice of females of his turf – what will happen if he runs into the Bicylce Crossing male? Male leopards do have a far wider range than females and their territories do overlap. Hopefully their territories are not too intertwined.

If you are interested in the leopards of Sabi Sand, then keep checking our blog for updates and stories. Let’s keep our eye on this Bicycle Crossing male – he is 13.5 years old and has plenty of experience. Smooth mover. Stay tuned for the next episode.

This week’s lion drama in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

Lions thrive more on social cohesion than leopards and form tightly woven bonds with their pride. They play together, raise cubs together and hunt together. They will go to great lengths to preserve their pride dynamics and greatly fear the splintering of a pride. They’ll fight for survival.

So, what happened during the course of the week with the Ross pride breakaway females, the Hercules pride, the Ross pride and the Trilogy?

The two Ross pride breakaway female sisters were seen relaxing in the thicket, when the cubs came out to play. We can happily report that the cubs are alive and well. And yes, we have video footage. Click here to watch the Ross pride lion cub video

Here are a few other lion highlights from the week:

9 lions decided they wanted in on a buffalo kill. The Ross pride, the breakaways and the Trilogy appear to be a strange, fractured family unit. The two Trilogy boys and the Ross pride breakaways feasted on the carcass. Later, they were joined by the lone lioness who has been seen hanging out with both the breakaway females and the Ross pride. After the feasting began, the remainder of the original Ross pride joined the dinner party. Will this pride re-unite or are there too many issues to unpack? Click here to read about the events that unfolded while the lions were feasting on the buffalo kill.

During the course of the day yesterday, the Hercules pride were spotted in the vicinity of a carcass which was being annihilated by a kettle of 300 vultures. We haven’t seen much of the Hercules pride, but they didn’t hang around for long.

If you are interested in the lions of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, then keep checking our blog for lion updates and stories. Let’s keep our eye on what happens with the Trilogy and the Ross pride. Stay tuned for the next episode.